In a world where developments take place in increasingly varied terrains, the ability to respond to the nature and intrinsic variability of the soil is of pivotal importance. And at HSL, we overcome geotechnical challenges with our flexibility and technology know-how.
Piling
Forming the very basis of construction, piling is a technique that requires experience and knowledge. Backed with a modern and diverse range of piling equipment, we deliver piling works that are of high quality and include bored piles and micro piles.
Widely used as an economical solution for foundation of high rise buildings, bored piles cannot be carried out effectively without extensive experience and knowledge. In normal soil conditions, the construction of bored piles involves installation of temporary steel casing prior to the boring by means of a rotary rig. In extreme unstable and weak soil conditions, polymer or bentonite slurry is used to prevent collapse of the pile shaft. To overcome the ground variability and minimize onsite vibration and noise level, HSL performs detailed soil analysis and mitigation studies before selecting the most appropriate drilling technology.
Micro Piles are small diameter piles used to carry vertical loads for small structures such as lift shafts and walkway shelters particularly in congested built up environment. It offers a viable alternative to conventional piling techniques, particularly in restricted access or low head room situations. Our expertise in micro piles ensures that installations are carried out with a high level of quality control, reduced noise level and onsite vibration.
Earth Retaining Structures
Earth retaining structures are used to hold back earth and provide support for vertical grade changes. With the wealth of knowledge in installing earth retaining structures, HSL is able to construct diaphragm/slurry walls, contiguous bored pile walls and secant pile walls.
Diaphragm walls are barriers or earth retaining wall made of reinforced concrete constructed in the ground by means of a trenching process. Slurry walls are similar to diaphragm walls except that they are non structural barrier and hence, commonly used as a cutoff wall to impede deep groundwater flow. Through the construction of diaphragm and slurry walls, HSL provides economical solutions for developing multilevel basement and for controlling environmental ground water problems.
Contiguous bored pile wall is one of the most common methods of earth retaining system where the bored piles are constructed in a line side by side with minimum clear spacing. They are particularly suitable in situations where site boundary restrictions prohibit alternative forms of soil retaining system, as in the case where adjacent structures are positioned immediately adjoining the wall boundary. Tailored to suit particular site conditions, HSL designs and builds walls that are safe and robust.
A secant bored pile wall is another type of earth retaining system using the bored piling techniques of construction. Secant bored pile walls consist of overlapping primary piles which are often referred to as female piles and secondary (male) piles. Depending on ground conditions and design requirements, secant bored pile walls are a cost effective way to provide alternative retaining wall systems especially
to control water flows and allow basement excavation with limited pumping in granular or water bearing strata.
Jet grouting is a soil improvement technique involving injection of ultra high pressure fluids or water-cement mixture into soils at high velocity. During the process, water and binders break out the soil structure completely and facilitate deep soil mixing to create a homogenous mass which solidifies. At HSL, jet grouting is carried out in a precise manner with minimum environmental impacts to enhance the soil engineering properties.